A proposed change in how Indian tribes are federally recognized could revive long dormant plans to build an Indian casino along the western I-84 corridor, Bridgeport and elsewhere in the state.

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is considering new rules that many believe would make it much easier for tribes like the Schaghticoke tribe in Kent and the Golden Hill Paugussett tribes in Trumbull to gain recognition, which brings the ability to offer gambling on federally held reservation land.

Under the proposed rule change, tribes would only have to trace their ancestry and continuity as a tribal organization back to 1934. Tribes must now show continuity and ancestry dating back to "first contact," which, in Connecticut, means the 1600s.

"This is a real watershed change, an upheaval moment in the whole tribal recognition process to so lower the bar and dilute the standards," said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

"It would open the floodgates," Blumenthal said. "This could enable some groups to achieve federal recognition without meeting the standards and criteria that other tribes had to meet."

The Schaghticokes in 2001 had been looking to build a casino at the former Union Carbide headquarters, now owned by Matrix Corp., on the west side of Danbury or somewhere along the western I-84 corridor, such as near the airport in Oxford.

The lack of federal recognition -- such as that gained by the Western Mashantucket Pequots in Ledyard and the Mohegans in Uncasville, which operate massive casinos on their lands -- had thwarted those endeavors.

The Schaghticokes and the Paugussetts during the 2000s proposed building a casino in Bridgeport but failed to gain federal recognition, partly because of gaps in ancestry records and proof of continuity as a tribe.

The Schaghticokes have a 400-acre reservation in Kent and the Paugussetts have a 1-acre reservation in Trumbull and a 106-acre reservation in Colchester.

Both tribes planned to acquire property in Bridgeport, namely the city-owned Steel Point tract along the harbor, because their current reservations are not considered commercially viable for a casino.

The reservation on Kent is on rocky, steep land.

The possible change in federal recognition also renews an old rivalry between two Schaghticoke factions.

"The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation looks forward to participating in the process being established by the Department of Interior and BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs)," Velky said Thursday.

A source close to the Schaghticokes said the tribe is still interested in building a casino in Bridgeport.

Bill Buchanan, business agent for the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe, which claims that it, not Velky's Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, is the true tribe, said he was disappointed by the proposed new guidelines.

The Schaghticoke Indian Tribe and its leader, Allen Russell, had put its application for tribal status on ice while the Velky faction pursued its recognition bid, and was "waiting for them to run out of gas" before coming forward.

The proposed new guidelines "will make it easier for other tribes to commit fraud like Velky did," Buchanan said.

Buchanan contends that Velky is not a real Schaghticoke Indian and their application is fraudulent.

Velky was not available for comment Thursday.

Jim Perkins, a Kent resident and one of the leaders of the now-defunct anti-recognition group Town Action to Save Kent, said recognition for the Schaghticokes "would be really upsetting in a lot of different ways."

"The real question is, `Have you thought this through?'" Perkins said. "This is a huge turnaround and there are about 500 other tribes also seeking recognition. There are a lot of questions to be asked and our representatives are in the position to ask them."

A third tribe in Connecticut, the Eastern Pequots in Stonington, also failed to win recognition. The tribe has a 224-acre reservation in Stonington and has expressed interest in building a casino.

The Paugussetts, the Schaghticokes and the Eastern Pequots obtained state recognition several hundred years ago but that designation has had little influence on federal recognition.

In the 1990s, the Paugussetts filed lawsuits in federal court claiming most of southwestern Connecticut and parts of Westchester County. The suit was tossed out of court because the tribe was not federally recognized.

If the three tribes gained recognition, land claims again could be filed.

Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said he is closely watching the proposed rule change.

"The proposed changes to federal tribal acknowledgement criteria and decision process are very significant for Connecticut," Jepsen said.

"My office has been in contact with, and we anticipate future discussions with, all members of our federal delegation, the governor's office and outside counsel representing several municipalities about this matter. We are currently evaluating the issues to determine the best and proper course of action," Jepsen said.

"Lowering the standards for the federal recognition process in Connecticut and in dozens of other states across the country just does not make sense," he said, calling it a "troubling" proposal.

The proposed rule change is part of President Barack Obama's "commitment to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship with Native Americans and Alaska natives," said Kevin Washburn, BIA's assistant secretary, in a press release.

"The discussion draft is a starting point in the conversation with federally recognized tribes, petitioners and the public on how to ensure that the process is fair, efficient and transparent," Washburn said.

"We are starting with an open mind and no fixed agenda, and we're looking forward to getting input from all stakeholders before we move forward with a proposed rule that will provide additional certainty and timeliness to the process. In many parts of the discussion draft, we have made no fixed recommendations in order to have the benefit of that input in formulating a proposed rule," Washburn said.

Blumenthal, who opposed recognition for the tribes as Connecticut's attorney general, said the rule change "seems almost tailored" to make the recognition process easier.

"This enables them to come back and apply after being denied," he said. "It also opens up opportunities for financial backers of the tribes. What's at stake is casino gambling. We will begin to mobilize concern about the proposed standards."

The plan a decade ago to build a casino in Bridgeport was backed by previous Park City mayors and the tribes intended to seek approvals from the governor, the state Legislature and the BIA, which establishes federally held reservations.

But now Bridgeport has development plans for Steel Point, said Elaine Ficarra, spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Finch.

The issue is big and should be of concern to "everyone in the state," said Chris Bruhl, president of Fairfield County Business Council, which has opposed attempts to bring casino gaming to Bridgeport because of anticipated traffic from New York City.

"The question is how much of the state would be affected," Bruhl said. "There is an awful lot here that people need to understand."